Fidget spinner explosions prompt Safety Commission warning

12 August 2017, 02:57 | Melissa Porter

A warning has been issued over fidget spinners
Credit
AP

It's a harmless fad, but months after we've all grown exhausted of even thinking about the things, the federal government is here to make sure you don't kill yourself, kill everyone around you, and burn down your neighborhood with a small spinning toy.

Following several incidents in which it became increasingly clear that toys-of-the-moment fidget spinners weren't just exploding in popularity, but actually exploding, federal safety regulators have issued a safety alert aimed at reducing the potential for injuries and fire hazards associated with the gadgets. However, the spinners contain small plastic and metal parts, which form a choking hazard in the wrong hands.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says small parts can come off easily and have, according to the group, been implicated in choking incidents in kids up to age 14.

If a fidget spinner is aimed at children aged 12 or younger, then it needs to adhere to US Toy Standard ASTM F963-16.

The fire risk is due to some fidget spinners using a rechargeable battery, which makes the spinner light up when in use, for example.

The fidget spinners should be unplugged as soon as they finish charging. Their merits as a therapeutic device remain up for debate, and many schools have banned them from classrooms because they cause a distraction.

Users should also not play with fidget spinners near their face.

Never charge a product with batteries overnight while you are sleeping. I'm not exaggerating: One of the CPSC's safety tips is to check that you have working smoke detectors if you have fidget spinners with batteries in your house.

In June, a Bluetooth fidget spinner caught fire in Alabama after it was left charging for about 45 minutes, the International Business Times reported.

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